Free and Nearly-Free Things to See and Enjoy in Green Bay

Whether you are taking a trip to Green Bay solo or with your family, stretching your budget is always included as part of vacation planning.

One of the areas where the Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau lacks, in my opinion, is not having the most comprehensive list of things to see and do. They, of course, cater to their sponsors and paying advertisors. 

While I, on the other hand, live there and live on that same small budget but still always look for new experiences.

Here are some of my highlights that you rarely hear about if you don't live here but are really quite worth your time to see:

UWGB Arboretum Trail
If you enjoy hiking but want to keep it mostly an easy terrain, take the free UWGB (University of Wisconsin Green Bay) Arboretum Walking Trail. With miles of wooded, groomed trails, naturists will enjoy seeing the stackedrock formation that forms the Niagara Escarpment (yes, that is the same natural formation that created Niagara Falls), wetlands for bird viewing, and even a remote, hidden "secret" chapel that is located on the property. 

The Brown County Courthouse (open weekdays, excluding holidays)
This historic building is stunning inside. The dome and walls hold beautiful, old, frescos depicting justice and patriotism, all surrounded by grand, marble staircases.

The City Deck
A public space along the waterfront that meanders for two blocks downtown. During summer this is the place to be seen and is the site of constant activity from dining events at lunch (Wednesdays) to parades and fun-runs, to free concerts at night (Fridays), to free yoga classes in the mornings. It is the prime spot to lounge and watch the river-dwellers go by. As new condos come online, this place becomes more lively by the day.

The Meyer Theatre
This theatre was opened in February 1932 as one of the original FOX Theatres. There are only a handful of the Fox Theatresl still left in the country that have been diligently preserved, and they are an exquisite site to see! While tours are not advertised, if you call the theatre during the week, visitors can make an appointment with the employees to get a personal tour the theatre for FREE. Do it. It is one of the city's gems.

The Wildlife Sanctuary
Nature in the middle of the city --- the santuary started out as a place where injured wildlife were cared for. As the years passed, those animals that could not safely be returned to the wild now live here and are viewable for free. The expansive collection of saved animals include bald eagles, fox, ancient turtles, and numerious species of wildlife -- up close and personal. 

Also on the property is a gorgous waterfall and lakes that attract thousands of Candian geese all year. Visitors can choose to fee the ducks for an interesting experience. Wildlife trails are also part of this experience. For those who want a pleasant stroll, take the trail which will reveal deer in in their wooded habitat.

Brown County and Cofrin Libraries
So many visitors have ties to Wisconsin when they look into their geneaology. A room in the Brown County Library is dedicated to resources for geneaology and house many, many collections preserving local and family history. 

The Cofrin Library sits atop the UWGB library on the 7th floor. What makes this floor special is that this is the Historical Societie's Repository for several counties in Wisconsin. Original, leather-bound books holding the prescious signatures and words of ancesters who became US Citizens can be reviewed here as well as research for any legal proceedings for the last 130 years. Tax records, court cases, city government notes, and many other pieces of history are all within reach here. It is a fascinating place!

Movie Night at the Neville Public Museum
During the cooler months the public museum offers a free International Movie Series, open to the public. Listings can be found on their website with the winter/spring schedule due to be released in October.

Wednesday and Saturday Farmers Markets
Summer and Fall offer Wisconsin's second and third largest Farmer's markets in the state. Both are free. Wednesday night's event is in the Broadway district while Saturday's is downtown on Washington Street. Both events have an astonishing variety of fresh produce, meats, pastas, flowers, crafts, and entertainment. Saturday's market even offers free yoga classes and live music. 150 vendors offer plenty to choose from for the 7000-9000 guests who attend weekly.

August is ArtStreet
200 artists from around the country gather for this art festival. Visual arts, photographers, jewelers, glass-blowers, dancers, musicians, wood-carvers... it's all hear. Entry is FREE. This event typically attracts 70,000 visitors during a 3-day event. It is AWESOME!

So many things to see and do here that doesn't break the bank. Come see for yourself how the locals live!